Malicious Code Injection in embarrassing_hare_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-98697: Malicious code in embarrassing_hare_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The embarrassing_hare_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript development. This package is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been associated with malicious activities aimed at inflating developer reputation scores. The package's primary function is to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, but it has been compromised to include harmful scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the embarrassing_hare_z3n package stems from its association with a malicious campaign that employs autopublish scripts to create and publish numerous derivative packages with randomized names. These scripts modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. The malicious nature of this package can result in developers unknowingly using compromised versions, potentially exposing their applications to further vulnerabilities and security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall embarrassing_hare_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can remove the embarrassing_hare_z3n package from your project by executing the command: npm uninstall embarrassing_hare_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The embarrassing_hare_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of applications using it. Developers should take immediate action to update or remove the package to safeguard their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and managing open-source vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The embarrassing_hare_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code can modify your package.json file, remove private flags, and publish unauthorized versions of your packages, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By analyzing your package-lock.json file, Vulert can help identify if your application is affected.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, always keep your dependencies updated, use trusted sources for packages, and regularly audit your dependencies for known vulnerabilities.
If an immediate update is not possible, consider removing the package as a temporary measure and monitor for updates or patches from the package maintainers.
